but if that same energy is released very rapidly, the battery cells will vent, release their contents, and have the potential both for fire and explosion. >> reporter: boeing needed special faa approval to allow the dreamliner to use lithium batteries for key electrical systems. >> they have narrowed it down to the battery system on this aircraft. we've had two events, and so, therefore, they're going to now be able to look at it a little bit more in detail and figure out what's going on. >> boeing's european archrival, airbus, uses lithium batteries only for emergency lighting in their air-380. but airbus' plane of the future, the air-350, due out by the end of next year, relies on them more heavily. the company says there are no plans to change its electrical design. >> regarding the batteries, its architecture, the safety. >> reporter: there are still 800 dreamliners on order, and it's unclear at this point if the safety concerns will affect the purchases. each aircraft costs $200 million. wolf? >> a lot of money involved. a nightmare for boeing right now. sandy endo reporting from